Serum alkaline phosphatase, its isoenzymes and sialic acid in breast cancer patients

ABSTRACT

Serum samples from 86 patients with breast cancer were assayed for sialic acid concentration. Total alkaline phosphalatse [ALP] and ALP isonzymes by EDTA inhibition and heat inactivation, in order to evaluate their utility and behaviour in these patients. Serum samples from 76 healthy control subjects were assayed and compared with breast cancer cases. The results from this study suggest that serum total ALP and sialic acid concentrations were increased significantly in breast cancer patients and the increase was more in patients with metastases. The diagnostic usefulness of sialic acid in this study was quite comparable, with 91.86% [79 of 86] of breast caner patients showing elevated level. ALP inactivation by heat was more marked than inhibition of ALP by EDTA. The use of these isoenzymes as a diagnostic tool in breast cancer patients could help together with increased sialic acid level and ALP, especially in patients with metastases